($1,201) Cost of Moving From California to Utah
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The average cost to move from California to Utah ranges from $615 to $5,815 and takes two–seven days. The top cost factors are how much you’re moving, your move date, and whether you hire a company or do the move yourself.
Moving the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our moving from Utah to California guide.
Our track record
Each year, 400,000+ people trust our car shipping recommendations. Here are a few reasons why:
- Founded in 2015
- 2,500+ car shipping companies analyzed
- $50,000 in moving & auto transport grants delivered
- Up-to-date pricing info & industry data
- Fact-checked for accuracy
The best California to Utah full-service movers
Moving from California to Utah? With thousands of moving companies in the U.S., hiring the right interstate moving company can be a challenge.
To simplify your search, we've selected the most reliable movers based on our detailed analysis of customer reviews, pricing, and service offerings.
Start with these top long-distance moving companies serving California for your Utah relocation:
- Safeway Moving: Best overall value
- Mayzlin Relocation: Best for personalized service
- American Van Lines: Most experienced mover
- PODS: Best nationwide coverage
- North American Van Lines: Best customized plans
rating
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
- Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
- Hands-on customer service
- 24/7 support
- Price-matching policy
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- Custom crates for electronics & art
- Satellite shipment tracking
- 1,500 local agents covering all 50 states
- Self-packing option
- No deposit required
The best California to Utah moving container companies
Moving containers allow you to save money without having to go the full DIY route. While you’ll have to handle loading and unloading, the container company has you covered on transportation — they’ll pick up your pod in California and drop it off at your new home in Utah.
Check out these highly rated moving container companies:
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- Long distance moves only
- Only pay for the space you use
- No deposit or initial fees
- Fast delivery time frames
- Combines affordability of DIY moving with convenience of a truck and driver
- Only pay for the truck space you use
- Offers vehicle shipping
The best California to Utah moving truck rentals
Moving truck rentals are the most cost-effective way to move from California to Utah, although they’re also the most labor-intensive. You’ll save big by doing all the heavy lifting and driving.
We like these rental moving trucks:
- Competitive base prices with specialized discounts
- Round-trip and one-way moves available
- User-friendly website makes it easy to book the right truck
- More than 20,000 locations with prominent pricing
- Rental options include everything from pick-up trucks to 26-foot moving trucks
- Gentle-Ride Suspension add protection to avoid damaging your items during transit
- U-Box moving containers available if you don't want to drive
The best California to Utah labor-only movers
If you need help moving some or all of your items into a container or rental truck, you can hire labor-only movers. They’ll send over a professional crew the right size for your move and you’ll pay only for the amount of time they work.
Consider one of these top-notch moving labor companies for your move from California to Utah:
- First call quoting, get a quote in just a couple of minutes
- Rates are typically 20-40% lower than the industry averages
- $1,000 money-back service guarantee
- Fast and accurate delivery times
- Free damage coverage with additional coverage options
- Quick and easy booking process
- National 4.75/5 star rating (these guys are good at what they do)
- Dedicated move concierge specialist
- Pay as you go service. 2-hour minimum and then prorated down to the minute
- The time clock starts when the movers arrive and ends when you tell them
How we chose the best moving companies for your CA to UT move
moveBuddha’s expert team analyzed moving rates from 281 California movers and listed the top movers based on customer satisfaction, reviews, and cost.
Customer satisfaction (40%): The company consistently delivers services in a timely matter with good communication and within the estimated cost.
Dispute resolution (20%): Mistakes cannot be avoided in the moving industry. We look for companies that own their mistakes and make genuine efforts to fix any issues that arise during a move.
Industry reputation (15%): The company is well-regarded within the moving industry and participates in industry conferences and organizations.
Online reputation (15%): The company maintains a professional website with accurate information. The company promptly and professionally responds to online customer inquiries.
Service options (10%): We look for companies with a deep breadth of services including full packing, storage, specialty item handling, and expedited delivery.
Here is our full moving company rating methodology.
How much does it cost to move from California to Utah?
The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from California to Utah for different moving services depending on the size of your home.
| Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 Bedroom | $1,201 - $4,388 | $795 - $1,871 | $552 - $1,106 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,407 - $5,815 | $1,444 - $2,650 | $615 - $1,289 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $4,098 - $8,169 | $1,825 - $3,530 | $770 - $1,501 |
*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 813 miles and historical averages. The actual size of your move, additional services required, truck parking access, market conditions, and availability can greatly affect your final costs.
Cost to hire movers from California to Utah
Hiring movers for a studio apartment or one-bedroom home from California to Utah will cost between $1,201 and $4,388. The cost to move a two- to three-bedroom home from CA to UT will range from $2,407 to $5,815, and a large move from California to Utah will cost from $4,098 to $8,169.
Cost of moving containers from California to Utah
Moving containers from California to Utah will cost you $795 to $1,871 for a small move. For a two- to three-bedroom move, moving containers can cost $1,444 to $2,650. A four-bedroom move or bigger will cost $1,825 to $3,530. Learn more about PODS cost.
Here are the cheapest moving container companies when moving out of California.
Cost of moving truck rentals from California to Utah
A moving rental truck is generally the cheapest option, but it requires you to do all of the driving and labor.
Moving a studio or one-bedroom apartment in a rental truck will cost around
$552 to $1,106.
A two to three-bedroom move will cost
$615 to $1,289,
and moving a home with four or more bedrooms or from California to Utah costs from
$770 to $1,501.
These estimates include the estimated fuel cost.
Factors affecting the cost of moving from CA to UT
There are many factors that influence California moving costs. The cost to move from California to Utah will depend on these factors:
- Move size: Moving a large home costs more than moving a studio apartment.
- Time of year: The peak moving season in California is in the summer, so moving companies will likely charge more.
- DIY vs. professional mover: DIY moving services are cheaper but you do all the heavy lifting compared to letting the pros handle your move.
What to know before moving from CA to UT
If you’re moving to Utah from California, you’ll want to compare what life will be like.
Cost of living: California vs. Utah
| California | Utah | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rent cost | $1,856 | $1,302 |
| Average home cost | $771,057 | $517,020 |
| Average income (per capita) | $91,905 | $86,833 |
| Cost of Living Index | 134 | 0 |
| Unemployment rate | 5.4% | 3.5% |
| Average Sales Tax | 8.68% | 7.19% |
| State Income Tax | 13.3% | 4.95% |
- Rent is about 30% less expensive in Utah than in California.
- Home prices are about 33% lower in Utah than in California.
- The average income is about 6% lower in Utah than in California.
- Cost of living is 100% lower in Utah than in California.
- Utah has a lower unemployment rate than California by about 35%.
- Sales taxes are 17% lower in Utah than in California.
- Income taxes are 63% lower in Utah than in California.
How life is different in Utah vs. California
| Utah | California | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 3,417,734 | 39,029,342 |
| Political leaning | Republican 60-40 | Democratic 59-41 |
| Summer high | 90ºF | 87ºF |
| Winter low | 17ºF | 59ºF |
| Annual rain | 15" | 22" |
| Annual snow | 43" | 7" |
| Crime index | 21.37 | 28.43 |
- The population of Utah is approximately 91% lower than the population of California.
- In the last presidential election, Utah voted Republican and California voted Democratic.
- The average high in the summertime in Utah is 90ºF and in California, it’s 87ºF.
- During the coldest part of the year, Utah reaches the temperature of 17ºF and California gets down to 59ºF.
- You can expect about 15 inches of annual rainfall in Utah versus 22 inches of rainfall in California.
- In Utah, it snows about 43 inches annually versus 7 inches of snow in California.
- Utah has a lower crime rate than California with a crime index of 21.37 vs. 28.43.
Comparing the pros of California vs. Utah
Getting a fresh start in a new location is exciting. Here’s a side-by-side look at the perks of living in Utah compared to California.
| Pros of living in California | Pros of living in Utah |
|---|---|
| Ample economic opportunity | Robust economic growth |
| Pleasant weather | Abundant outdoor activities |
| Abundant recreational options | Growing population |
| High quality of life | Outdoor paradise |
| Fresh and healthy foods | Diverse |
Comparing the cons of living in California vs. Utah
Everything can’t be sunshine and rainbows all the time, no matter where you live. Here are some things to be aware of when leaving California for Utah.
| Cons of living in California | Cons of living in Utah |
|---|---|
| High cost of living | Extreme weather |
| Heavy tax burdens | High cost of housing |
| Natural disasters | Peculiar liquor laws |
| Terrible traffic | Dangerous drivers |
| Strange laws | Huge emphasis on religious identity |
Other things to consider for your California to Utah move
- Weather: Utah's temperatures are extreme, with cold temperatures in winter due to its elevation, and very hot summers statewide (with the exception of mountain areas and high mountain valleys). Utah is usually protected from major blasts of cold air by mountains lying north and east of the state. Utah, like most of the western United States, has few days of thunderstorms. On average there are fewer than 40 days of thunderstorm activity during the year, although these storms can be briefly intense when they do occur.
- HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
- Elevator reservation: One common and important example of something that should be handled ahead of time is reserving the building's elevator and finding out their rules for using the elevator.
- Parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles, find out ahead of time with your new local rules.
- State licensing: Although a local license is not required in Utah, make sure the moving company you’ll be hiring is registered with U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). To verify if you’re dealing with a legal and licensed mover, you may ask them their USDOT registration number. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
- State regulator: You can verify a Utah moving license and its status on the state regulator's official website.
- Moving permits: Utah does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
- Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form so that all your mail will get properly forwarded to Utah. Get started here.
- Mover's insurance: Interstate moving companies are required under federal law to provide basic insurance — also called “released value protection” — free of charge to all moving customers. In Utah, movers commonly offer Released Value Protection at no extra cost, providing coverage at 60 cents per pound. To increase protection, consider discussing Full Value Protection options with the moving company.
- Moving checklist: Peace of mind is priceless. Our moving checklist will help you know you’ve got everything covered.
Things to do in Utah
While you’re in Utah, you won’t be bored. These are some of the coolest places to visit in your new home state:
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- Arches National Park
- Zion National Park
- Canyonlands National Park
- Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
- Park City
- Temple Square
- Dinosaur National Monument
- Capitol Reef National Park
- Lake Powell
- Dead Horse Point State Park
- Cedar Breaks National Monument
- Great Salt Lake
- Antelope Island
- Natural Bridges National Monument
- Bonneville Salt Flats
- Golden Spike National Historic Site
- Mirror Lake
- Goblin Valley State Park
- Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
FAQs
What is the cheapest way to move from California to Utah?
Hiring a full-service California moving company will be on the more expensive side, while a rental truck or a moving container is usually the cheaper way to go, but requires more work. Here’s our guide for the cheapest way to move out of state.
Do movers transport your car from California to Utah?
Some full-service movers can coordinate auto transport for you as part of your relocation package for an additional fee. But you can also handle vehicle transport from California to Utah separately through one of the top car shipping companies.
What are the benefits of moving from California to Utah?
The main reasons people are moving from California to Utah are the amazing upsides of living in Utah such as robust economic growth and abundant outdoor activities.
Is it cheaper to live in California or Utah?
It is generally cheaper to live in Utah than in California. Housing is much more affordable in Utah, with average rent about 30% less and home prices 32.9% lower than in California. Taxes are also lower in Utah, most notably income taxes, which are more than 60% less than those paid by California residents.
How much should you make a year to live comfortably in Utah?
You should make approximately $61,242 as a single adult with no children to live comfortably in Utah. The cost of living in Utah is approximately $2,162 per month for an individual and $4,702 for a family of four. The exact amount you’ll need to live comfortably may be more or less depending on where in Utah you live For example, larger cities like Salt Lake City and St. George will have higher housing costs than those in smaller towns.
